A recent news of a tragic suicide by a young woman. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Airhostess-jumps-off-cruise-ship-family-alleges-husband-beat-her-regularly/articleshow/5410202.cmsNeha had married Ankit in October 2008. Her family said they spent over Rs 45 lakh on the wedding and gave the Dalals Rs 15 lakh in cash. “Just after the marriage, they demanded Rs 10 lakh more and we gave them that too. But their attitude towards my daughter was bad since day one,” claims Neha’s father, S K Chhikara, who is the director of a shipping corporation. Comment: What perplexes is that if you give bribe (dowry) to a person (husband and in-laws) to do something for …[Continue Reading]

From MOIA document at this link: http://www.498a.org/contents/publicity/MOIA_government.doc Any property or gift given to a woman before, at the time of marriage or later is her property May be gifted by anyone, even in-laws, friends She alone has the right to gift, will or dispose of her property as she desires No one else has a right on it Anyone who has a woman’s streedhan in her/his custody should return it to the actual owner within a stipulated time period If the trustee disposes of her property without her willing so the offender will be punished with imprisonment and fine If …[Continue Reading]

In probably a landmark judgment in India’s ‘crusade’ against the evil of dowry, Delhi sessions court has ordered prosecution to proceed for crime of dowry giving. Bride’s father in the dock as city court says giving dowry is also an offenceExcerpt from the news below:One common allegation in all her complaints pertained to how she was ill-treated for bringing insufficient dowry despite her father having spent over Rs 8 lakh in meeting the dowry demands of her husband and his father. While Rita made this particular accusation, she could hardly imagine the legal trouble it would bring to her father. …[Continue Reading]

Today’s news story of Bangalore techie Shubhankar Katyayan is heart-rending of how cruel people will not stop at anything, and literally will kill the ‘golden husband’ they set out to exploit like the proverbial ‘golden goose’ story. Treated cruelly by wife, techie ends lifeNow read the pertinent information from the story: Shubhankar’s lawyer Anand said the divorce petition (MC1732/09) was filed on June 24, 2009. In the judicial separation petition posted for hearing on January 1, 2010, Nandini had claimed Purunjay’s custody and return of all gifts she received at her wedding. On July 14, Nandini’s mother Anmana Jha lodged …[Continue Reading]

At the outset, we may notice as to what is ‘Streedhana’In Rashmi Kumar (Smt.) vs. Mahesh Kumar Bhada [(1997) 2 SCC397], the meaning of Stridhana has been taken from Mayne’s Hindu Law &Usage (13thEdn.). It was opined: “9. A woman’s power of disposal, independentof her husband’s control, is not confined tosaudayika but extends to other properties as well.Devala says: “A woman’s maintenance (vritti),ornaments, perquisites (sulka), gains (labha), areher stridhana. She herself has the exclusive right toenjoy it. Her husband has no right to use it exceptin distress….” In N.R. Raghavachariar’s HinduLaw — Principles and Precedents, (8th Edn.)edited by Prof. S. …[Continue Reading]

Here are links to some well written articles by Madhu Kishwar who is a woman but does not call herself a feminist, so we could trust her couldn’t we? Destined to Fail: Inherent flaws in anti-dowry legislation Destined to Fail: Inherent flaws in anti-dowry legislation – PDF format Another article with similar theme but much more detailed:Violence against Women: Good practices in combating and eliminating violence against women